Corn-harvester



(No Model.) 2 sneet-sneet, 2.

P. H. TAYLOR.v

CORN HARVESTER. No. 280,687. Patented July 3, 1883,.

. WITNESSES UNITED STATES PATENT *OF IcE.

ROBERT H. TAYLOR, OF TONGANOXIE, KANSAS.

CORN-HARVESTER.

SPECIFICATION forming art of Letters Patent No. 280,687, dated July 3, 1883.

Application filed November 23, 1882.

(No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT H. TAYLOR, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Tonganoxie, in the county of Leavenworth and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Corn-Harvesters; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,

- such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or 'figures of reference, marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a top or plan view of my stalk-cutter. Fig. 2 is a side View. Fig. 3 is also a side view. Fig; 4 is a rear View, and Fig. 5 is a plan view of the gearing detached from the machine.

This invention has relation to machines for cutting standing corn or-cornstalks; and it consists in the construction and novel arrangement of devices, as hereinafter set forth, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, the letter A designates the longitudinal beams of the frame; B, the cross-bars, and O a horizontal oblique beam on the side of the frame next to the corn. The frame is divided by the central longitudinal beam and the middle cross-bar into four parts, whereof the parts D and E, diagonally opposite each other, are respectively floored to receive the driver and to afford a standingplace for the shocker. The other two parts, F and G, also diagonally opposite each other, are designed, respectively, for the mechanism of the cutting device and for the trap-compartment in which the shock is built, and from which it is discharged in standing form.

On the right of the frame, upon the oblique beam 0, is constructed an oblique side frame,

H, the front end of which extends forward of the cutter, and forms a guide and gatherer for the stalks to be cut. 7

K indicates the main supporting and drive wheel, which. is rigidly attached to the shaft (1, near the middle of the front ,portion of the frame, so that this wheel is never in the standing corn.

Near the rear end of the machine, on each side, is arranged a caster-wheel, L, that on the right being guarded by the oblique frame H,

. so that itsmovements are unobstructed by the standing corn. p

The shaft (0 extends from the middle drivewheel, K, to the right, and carries a cog-wheel, b, which engages a pinion, c, on a small horizontal shaft, d, which carries at its outer end the bevel-pinions c and .9, arranged back to back, as shown in the drawings.

The stem f of the cutter N is provided with a bevel-wheel, h, which engages the pinion c, and the pinion g engages a bevel-wheel, k, at

the lower end of the reel-stem Z, which extends upward, and is provided with a radially-armed wheel or reel, M, whereby the tops of the stalks are pushed toward the rear as the stalks are cut off by the knife N. The knife is rotary, having cutting-arms m, which operate in succession upon the stalks. Below thefront portion of the knife a V-shaped plate is secured to the frame, forming an abutment against which the knife works. The machinery for operating the cutter and reel is designed to be housed in to keep it free from obstructions and dust.

To the upper portion of the frame II is attached a guide-bar, I, which is curved inward at its rear-end, as indicated at p, and serves to guide the falling stalks toward the opening n at the inner front corner of the trap-compartment G. An oblique guide-bar, P, extends from the standard R, which supports the upper end of the reel-stem, to the front post of said corner opening, a, and also serves to guide the falling stalks to said opening. The trapcompartment G is arranged diagonally to the left and rear of the frame. It is bounded on the outside and front by a guard-wall, s, and on the inside by a guard-wall, s, the front end of which is separated from the guard-wall s by the corner opening, a, through which the stalks fall. In .rear the compartment is provided with a gate, R, which is pivoted to the rear end of the inside wall, 8. The bottom of the compartment is formed by the trap-doors S S, which are placed side by side, being hinged to the frame at their outer edges and meeting along the middle of the compartment, as shown in the drawings. These trap-doors are provided in rear with projections t, which, when the doors are closed, engage a cross-bar, 11, secured to the lower portion of the gate 1% when the latter is closed. When the gate is opened, the trap-doors are released and fall, letting out the shock which has previously been formed and bound by the shocker, standing on the floor at E.

In order to hold the gate closed, anglecatches z z are pivoted to the rear end of the outside wall, 8, their ends being provided with slots, and a pin connecting them with an operating-rod, T, which extends forward within reach of the driver. The catches z z are arranged one above the other, and when the gate R is closed engage extensions of the upper and lower cross-bars, XV, of said gate.

In order to discharge the shock after it has been formed, it is only necessary to pull the rod T, which releases the gate, allowing it to be pushed open by the expansive force of the shock, or by the shocker releasing the trapdoors, which fall promptly, so that the shock descends in standing form. A jointed device for compressing the shock for binding may be connected to the wall of the shock-compart ment.

A latch may be connected to the bottom frame to engage the trapdoors, and will serve to hold up the front ends of the latter while the shock is being formed. The operating rod should be connected with this latch, so as to unfasten it when it is pulled 'to unlatch the gate.

A trap bottom upon which the shock is formed, adapted to open downward in two sec tions and deposit the shock in a standing po- .sition on the ground, has been employed in corn-harvesters prior to my invention. Revolving cutters and a reel i'or pressing the stalks down to be out are also old, and broad claims are made to neither of these constructions.

Having described this invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

1. In a corn-harvester, the combination, with the bottom trap-doors, S S, having rear projections, i, of the hinged rear gate, R, having a cross-bar at its lower portion to engage said projections and hold the trap-doors up when the gate is closed, substantially as specified.

2. A corn-harvester having the shock-compartment G, diagonally opposite the cutter, and provided with the corner opening, a, the guides P and 1 leading from the cutter thereto, the hinged bottom doors having projections 1, the hinged rear gate, R, engaging said projections, the angle-catches pivoted together, and the operating-rod T, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I aliix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT H. TAYLOR.

Witnesses:

H. V. RICE, ASHLEY A. MooDY. 

